Behind the Line: Introducing Orley

There's some fresh new knits coming from the East Village you'll want to know about later this year, and they're the brainchild of two bros (Matthew and Alex Orley), (and a lady, Samantha Florence) with some background in the business. The brothers Orley dabbled at Thom Browne, and Rag & Bone respectively before deciding to pursue their own eponymous label of colorful sweaters, scarves, and hats made to lofty standards (read: Italy), and done in playful patterns and jacquard prints that have the sensibility of streetwear, the swank of the seventies, and the chops to hang with high fashion. "We saw a niche that needed filling," Matthew told GQ. "We'd go check out the knitwear at trade shows, and it was just so drab."

Boring these knits are not, but you can find something here to suit any taste, from a chunky cable knit with contrast piping at the neck to a starburst of a yellow/gray hooded number (slide 2). Look for these and more come fall at Union in Los Angeles (the Chris Gibbs co-sign is a big one), and Fivestory in New York. As I ducked out of the Orley's charming apartment-slash-studio bordering Tompkins Square park, the appointment following mine was none other than Steven Alan, so I suppose the word's out, and it's well deserved... Did I mention we had the appointment before Mr. Alan? First, Steven.